AFTER winning his first all around title in 2007-2008, Alton Downs cowboy
Shane Iker has won a second all around title at the 2014 Australian
Professional Rodeo Association National Finals Rodeo (NFR) at Caboolture.
The NFR was held at the Queensland State Equestrian Centre for the first
time and was on the same weekend as the Urban Country Music Festival.
Iker was in a close battle with Emerald rider and defending titleholder
Shane Kenny going into the final round on Sunday and rose to the occasion to
win the final round of the rope and tie in 8.5 seconds to secure both all
around and rope and tie titles.
In 2007-2008, he won the same two titles.
After being close in the past, Augathella and former Millmerran cowboy Peter
Moffatt won the saddle bronc title after a second in round 2 and wins in the
final two rounds.
Atheron cowboy Kurt Shephard was the only rider to make time on four bulls
and won the title with an equal first, two seconds and a third.
The most successful competitor in an individual event at the finals was
Tibooburra (NSW) rider Fred Osman who won the first three rounds and was
second in the fourth and final round of the bareback bronc ride. Osman
called Gore in Queensland home for many years but is now based in the
north-west of New South Wales.
In team roping, Jesse Townsend, of Calvert (Qld) and Terry Evison (Willung,
Vic) were victorious. Evison has previously won the title but this year's
was his first with Townsend. They recorded times of 4.95 seconds, 5.1 and
6.4 for their placings to have two of the four fastest times at the NFR.
In steer wrestling, Benalla (Vic) rider Gavin Walker won the most money in
the season which finished at Easter to win the pro tour title and continued
his fine form to win his first title at Caboolture.
He secured the title with a second and two thirds in the final three
rounds. Last year's winner Cameron Bell, of Rockhampton in Queensland,
started with a win in round 1 but was overtaken by Walker.
Nichole Fitzpatrick, of Willow Tree (NSW), won the all around and barrel
racing titles for cowgirls, her first wins at a NFR.
After three wins at Easter in Victoria, Fitzpatrick also won the pro tour
all around cowgirl title for most money won in the season.
After being near the top of the standings all year, Table Top (NSW) rider
Stephanie Gard won the breakaway roping title.
The first APRA rodeo for the new season is the Darwin Mother of Pearl Rodeo
on May 10 and then Nebo has a rodeo on May 24.
APRA AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONS
All Around Cowboy Shane Iker (Alton Downs, Qld)
Saddle Bronc Peter Moffatt (Augathella, Qld)
Bull Ride Kurt Shephard (Atherton, Qld)
Bareback Fred Osman (Tibooburra, NSW)
Rope & Tie Shane Iker (Alton Downs, Qld)
Steer Wrestling Gavin Walker (Benalla, Vic)
Team Roping Jesse Townsend (Calvert, Qld)/Terry Evison (Willung, Vic)
All Around Cowgirl Nichole Fitzpatrick (Willow Tree, NSW)
Barrel Race Nichole Fitzpatrick (Willow Tree, NSW)
Breakaway Roping Stephanie Gard (Table Top, NSW)
More information and photos requests from APRA office on 07 4661 8183
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